Braden helps Athletics snap 10-game losing streak

The 24-year-old lefthander, who replaced Harden in the rotation
upon the former ace's departure to the National League, pitched
seven strong innings as the Athletics snapped a 10-game losing
streak by defeating the Detroit Tigers, 4-2, on Friday in the
opener of a three-game series.

Braden (3-2) surrendered a two-run homer by Marcus Thames in the
second inning, but that was all the Tigers were able to muster
against him in his fourth start this season - all after Harden
was traded to the Chicago Cubs on July 8.

"(Braden) was big," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "Last time
he pitched here, he had a little trouble (allowing eight runs in
1 2/3 innings last August 12). ... Same basic lineup. He
changed his game. I thought he started pitching inside well,
and that set up his changeup, which is his bread and butter."

He has been shuttled back and forth between Oakland and Class
AAA Sacramento five times this year, and this brilliant outing
may have convinced Geren he is worth keeping around as the
franchise launches its rebuilding stage.

"Pitching inside (is the key)," Braden said. "When you don't
throw a million (miles per hour), you've got to be able to hit
your spots and just let them know that you're going to control
that part of the plate."

Braden was not the only young hurler to help prevent Oakland
from tying its third-longest skid since 1978.

Brad Ziegler threw two scoreless frames to notch his first
career save while extending his scoreless streak to 37 innings,
pulling even with Mike Torrez for the franchise's longest
stretch without giving up an earned run. Torrez accomplished
the feat in 1976.

"Every time he pitches, it's a story," Geren said. "To see him
get his first save and do it with a two-inning appearance is
something. I felt that he was pitching so well, that it was my
intention when he came in in the eighth that he was going to
finish the game."

Ziegler's success has even triggered discussions of the
28-year-old being utilized as the team's closer instead of
Huston Street.

"Not sure my (long-term) role is as a closer," Ziegler said.
"But I'll come in from the bullpen, pitch a couple of innings,
and anything I can do to help the team, I will."

Rajai Davis laced a two-run single in the fifth and Mark Ellis
added an RBI base hit later in the inning to put the Athletics
ahead, 3-2. Emil Brown belted a solo home run in the sixth to
cap the scoring for Oakland, which improved to 3-17 after the
All-Star break.

"We wanted to end the losing streak, and now that we have,
hopefully we can take off on a winning streak," Ziegler said.

"We have no excuses. Kenny pitched good enough for us to win,
but we couldn't get it done offensively," Tigers manager Jim
Leyland said. "If you look at that righthanded-hitting starting
lineup for us, it was pretty impressive.

"But a good lefthanded pitcher won the battle. We were very
sluggish and just didn't play very well."